Naturally Easter

I'd been eyeing the packages of decorative moss that I had purchased for my mom's birthday party last year.  I wanted to use it for a project, but I really don't have a use for moss-covered bird houses,  pots, or even a monogram... And then I had an A-ha! moment (gotta love those!) and this Moss Easter Banner was born.

I think it's the right touch for our family room mantel.  It's eye-catching and accents the bird and butterfly decor that I already have in place.

What You'll Need:

heavy card stock & computer/printer OR  pre-cut banner/ letters

scissors

sheet moss

tacky glue

twine

hot glue gun

The Tutorial:

Choose a simple font and print out your letters onto heavy card stock.  I used Tahoma at 350 font size to create 3.5 inch letters. 

**You can skip this step if you have a Cricut or other personal cutter.  Also, if you can find a cheap pre-made banner at a party store (you know the ones where the letters are cut out of cardboard and attached together?), that would also be a quick "cheat".  :)

Cut out your letters.  Then, using the card stock letters as a guide, cut out the letters onto your sheet moss.

Glue your sheet moss letters onto your card stock letters.  I used Tacky Glue since that stuff never fails. This will reinforce the letters and make them sturdy enough for hanging.

Spray the moss letters with Acrylic Sealer.  This will keep the moss from shedding and making a mess in your home.

If you'd like, embellish your moss letters.  I used some inexpensive silk flowers.

Using a hot glue gun, glue your finished letters to twine, or some other type of string.

{oops, sorry... I forgot to take a picture!}

Now you're ready to hang up your banner!

close-up of the mossy detail...

from the left...

from the right...

and a full fireplace shot... gosh I really need to paint that brass!

And as you probably already figured...

{more Moss projects coming up!}

linked to:

 

Oh Martha Monday - Strawberry Cake

I made this for Happy Vee's class.  Simple and so, so Y-U-M-M-Y!

Click here for the recipe

Here's how my cake turned out...

I doubled the recipe and made mine in a rectangle cake pan



If you're looking for something sweet without being overly-processed, give this recipe a try.  It'd be good with other fruit too-- next time I'm going to try raspberries.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Easter Eggs - Flowered

Happy Vee and I are both under-the-weather, but it's given us a good excuse to hang out in our pajamas and lay low.  He's busy watching and reenacting CARS, the movie and I've been playing around with paper, punches & eggs.

Inspired by these pomander balls by Pizzazzerie and these kissing balls from The Idea Room, and with a little change in shape, they became the perfect decor for Spring & Easter.

styrofoam eggs | flower paper punch

for some size perspective

and here's the flowered egg on my mantel

{I didn't include a tutorial because Pizzazzerie has already posted an excellent one.  Check it out here.}

I hope you're having a nice weekend.  The Mister got one of the computers up and running-- yahoo! So I'll be back to my somewhat regular post schedule ;)  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

edited to add:

More Paper Flower Eggs HERE

linked to:

Soothing...

via apartment therapy

I love this attic... would it be possible for me to lock myself in there for a day or so?

I'm having one of THOSE weeks. 

My week started off with Smarty Pants, my usually conscientious almost-5 year old, having a complete "I have NO idea whose kid that is!" meltdown at Costco.  Right in the bread aisle, which is at the back of the store.... which meant I had to drag said screaming child through the entire warehouse along with a 2nd child who was sympathy crying.    The reason for the drama?  Wait for it-- sweet bread rolls.  In a normal store, no problemo.  But at Costco?  No way I'm buying a pack of 48 rolls!  He'd eat 1 roll and since Happy Vee and The Mister don't really like sweet bread, I'd be left to eat the remaining 47...  For some reason, he was not having my reasoning. ;)  [By the way, he did end up with his sweet bread rolls... purchased at Ralphs. He was still going on-and-on about it several hours after the Costco incident. Good grief is that child persistent!]

Then, I must've angered the computer gods.  I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that our main computer (aka big bertha) was at the "doctors".  Turns out she had a nasty virus and I just got her back last Friday.  Well today, the hard drive in "lil lucy", my old, rusty laptop crapped-out, and I can't access any of my photos.  This would be fine, except "big bertha"  is evidently still not well because, for some reason, I can't access my blog ... So I had to upload photos on one computer, then run over to the other computer to write this post. 

So this is basically a long way of letting you know that my posting will be a little sparse until my sanity returns and the berthas & lucys in my life are well (or replaced!).  Oh, and not related, but my Kindle just died too!   If you treasure your technology, you best not be coming over to my house!  (kidding... I think...)

Hope you're having a nice week!

Oh Martha Monday - Pops of Color

Whites & neutrals are fine,

But now that it's officially spring...

How about some color?

see the home tour here

the orange & yellow touches and those colorful dishes add a fun vibe

see the home tour here

loving the black & white walls.  and the hot pink accents add a fun punch of color.

see the home tour here

this home has lovely pops of orange throughout.

and i love that super-sized subway art.

more green rooms here

green has always been a *scary* color for me. 

the fact that i painted my craft room green, was me being really bold!

see the home tour here

love the bold red accents.

i'd never think to mix it with blues and greens too... but it works!

more yellow rooms here

yellow is another *scary* color for me. 

our original nursery was yellow, and it was not my favorite...

but in small doses, it could grow on me.

see the home tour here

 blue is a color that i'm always drawn to. 

so calm & soothing (which is necessary with that bold wallpaper!)

 Are you going to add some color to your decor this year?  Our home is very neutral and I think the next thing I'm going to tackle is our Master bedroom.  Right now we're in the taupe doldrums.  I just need to figure out a complementary color... Maybe black? That counts as a color, right?  :)

Have a nice Monday!